No Depth Chart? Shane Beamer Explains South Carolina’s Decision Ahead of Season Opener
Game week has arrived for South Carolina, and while most details — from travel arrangements to Rahsul Faison’s eligibility — are settled, one key item is still missing: a depth chart.
When the Gamecocks released their official game notes Tuesday, there was no depth chart included. Head coach Shane Beamer confirmed Wednesday that USC will not be providing one before Sunday’s matchup against Virginia Tech.
“On Sunday afternoon, you’ll piece it together,” Beamer told reporters.
Beamer fielded 11 questions during his press conference, with four of them focusing on starting jobs and the lack of a depth chart. The coach insisted the decision has nothing to do with gamesmanship and everything to do with managing the narrative.
“That’s just what I was trying to avoid,” Beamer explained. “What’s best for our team right now was not putting anything on paper.”
Transparency With Virginia Tech
In fact, Beamer went so far as to share his plans directly with Hokies head coach Brent Pry.
“I told Brent Pry that I was not going to release a depth chart this week because I didn’t want him to release one and then we don’t release one,” Beamer said. “It’s not any kind of trying to keep secrets from Virginia Tech.”
Virginia Tech still opted to release an unofficial depth chart to the media on Tuesday.
Beamer pointed out that South Carolina is hardly alone in this approach, referencing last year’s Aflac Kickoff Game between Clemson and Georgia, when neither Dabo Swinney nor Kirby Smart published a depth chart midweek. Clemson eventually placed one in the press box just hours before kickoff.
“Dabo and Kirby didn’t put a depth chart out before this game last year and everyone survived,” Beamer said. “I’m sure this year will be no different with us as well.”
This week, Swinney confirmed Clemson will not provide a Week 1 depth chart before its season opener against LSU, citing both gamesmanship and unsettled position battles — a situation similar to South Carolina’s.
Starters Still Taking Shape
Beamer noted he hasn’t decided whether USC will release any official information about starters before Sunday. What is certain is that the team will stick to its normal pregame routine — warming up all starting units on offense, defense, and special teams about 28 minutes before kickoff.
Without a depth chart, some position battles remain unclear. The only certainties are LaNorris Sellers as the starting quarterback and freshman standout Dylan Stewart lining up on the edge.
When asked which other positions were still undecided, Beamer kept things vague.
“Competition is a core value of our program, and we say we compete every day,” he said. “So, all of them.”
